Hundreds of shrimp farms in Thua Thien Hue Province have been forced to cease operations after a large, sustained discharge of contaminated water.
Shrimp facilities lie idle
Lack of waste water treatment
Around 50 households that raise shrimp, spanning five communes in Phong Dien District, have had to halt their activities. They are currently seeking the support of local government to help them resume their businesses.
Several families in Phong Hai Commune, one of the highest producing shrimp areas in the district, are struggling to pay their debts.
A farmer in Phong Hai Commune, said, "We\'ve just had to stop raising shrimp. There is too much pollution and it leads to diseases. Twice, since the beginning of the year, large amounts of shrimp just died. We\'re trying to find some kind of solution for this, like pumping fresh water into the ponds, for the next season."
According to Nguyen Van Nuoi, Chairman of Phong Hai Commune, disease has ravaged local shrimp farms due to substandard shrimp raising techniques as well as the environmental issues.
"Many farmers just wanted to maximise production, bringing density up to 200-300 shrimp per square metre. The standard should be 70-100," Nuoi said.
The development of the shrimp farming industry was not well-regulated, and the waste water from these facilities was discharged, untreated, directly into the surrounding water systems.
He added that many of these farmers are simply unaware of the environmental impacts, or the impacts on their livelihoods.
Their practices have even started to contaminate sea water and underground aquifers, he noted.
Due to the water pollution, local government in Phong Dien District requested that these shrimp farmers suspend operations beginning from July 1, 2011.
At the same time, many of them have taken out business loans, and are struggling to pay them back.
Unexpected consequences
Phong Hai Commune in Phong Dien District was hardest hit due to serious environmental pollution.
Nguyen Dai Vui, Chairman of the district People\'s Committee, warned that there is a plan to greatly expand the shrimp farming area in this locality. "If we do not take measures to reduce pollution, it could lead to severe damage to the underground water supply, as well as the environment."
Vui said that the current situation was due to the rapid development of the shrimp industry, along with lax regulation by local authorities.
He also promised that there would be funds from the district budget to build a public waste water treatment system.
Shrimp farmers are also required to build their own waste water treatment systems, so as not to dump untreated waste into the surrounding environment. They will be allowed to resume operations after such facilities are constructed.
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Pumps for clean water
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